India’s Vaccine Diplomacy :A Global Social Responsibility
India has acquired a new persona during these tough times of coronavirus pandemic. Twelve months after the COVID- 19 global health crisis had stalled the global economy, increased the suffering of human lives, India brought about its answer by introducing the world to its capability of mass productions of vaccinations. New Delhi currently has the potential to charter a pathway of producing a global vaccination program. Along with this agenda, the potential provides opens with the opportunity to counter the rising Chinese influence in South Asia. China’s aggressive interventionist policies over its land and maritime territory have proved to be a rising issue for the subcontinent. This puts India in a diplomatically tough position as it is not leaning towards a military conflict with Beijing but simultaneously seeks to establish an effective diplomatic presence in terms of the rising conflict in the South China Sea, a diplomatic contest in Indian Ocean Region and territorial intervention in Ladakh. This article analyses India’s vaccine diplomacy in the upcoming year and evaluates the current policies with future opportunities. A parallel context of India’s development alongside China’s policies will be set as the foundation of our analysis and discuss the priority diplomatic step that should be taken up by New Delhi.
“India has the capability and is putting it to good use as a way of building trust.”- C. Raja Mohan, National University of Singapore[1]
COVID- 19 pandemic has been an unprecedented situation for the whole human civilization. As of 14th February 2021, a total of 108 million people has been infected with the COVID- 19[2]. Out of the total cases in the world, 60.8 million have been recovered and the world saw 2.39 million people lost their lives to the coronavirus pandemic[3]. United States of America (USA), India, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Russia are the top 5 countries with the greatest number of coronavirus cases. The United States has been riddled with a total of 27. 6 million, India with 10.9 million, Brazil with 9.77 million, the United Kingdom with 4.01 million and Russia with 4 million cases[4]. China, where the coronavirus pandemic originated in 2019, has been troubled with 89,619 cases out of which 83,467 recovered and 4,636 citizens lost their lives[5]. Handling the pandemic and countries striving towards distributing the appropriate vaccines towards the virus becomes crucial for diplomatic relations. Global Health Diplomacy has been the overarching idea upon which nations prescribe to achieve developmental and global health goals specified either by the international organisation or bilateral agreement between nation-states. World Health Organization’s 2005- Report of The National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health outlines the incorporation of global health into the core of international diplomacy[6]. WHO’s main argument was that health diplomacy fulfils the necessity of health among nations and cooperation on diplomatic relations can develop strong bi-lateral relations. During the ongoing crisis, it becomes imperative to have that diplomatic strength and establishment leading the cause of vaccine diplomacy. The need of the hour stands that vaccine diplomacy, as an impetus for serving the welfare of humanity, is not involved in the strands of nationalistic tendencies, and restricting the idea of global cooperation. In this situation, India stands in a critical situation. If India utilizes its capabilities in an apt and well- constructed manner, the situation will not only assist in reducing the suffering of humanity but will establish a new and more influential position of its foreign diplomacy in the international arena. The immediate diplomatic contest that stands in front of India is Chinese vaccination program and expansion.
“Vaccine Maitri'', as unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to send millions of doses of Indian manufactured Covid-19 vaccines to its neighbouring countries[7]. The diplomatic friendship is being extended to the Middle East and South America. This vaccine diplomacy had been initiated by India supply of hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir and paracetamol tablets as part of its medical assistance. Diagnostic kits, ventilators, masks, gloves, and other medical supplies[8]. These supplies form the foundation for India’s largest vaccination programme and assisting its neighbouring countries. By conducting 3,350 sessions on the first day of its vaccination program, Covishield was manufactured at the Serum Institute of India was available in all the states of the subcontinent[9]. Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin was administered in 12 states with an initial focus on healthcare workers, sanitation workers and municipal workers. The vaccination drive unravelled with 11 million doses of Covishield and 5.5 million of Covaxin is critical during the status quo[10]. Since the first reports of COVID- 19 pandemic, India surfaced and after 12 months, it is at a position where after months of uncertainty, tragedy and upheaval have not stopped the resilience of India’s vaccination program which is a commendable achievement although Centre for Disease Control (CDC) predicted the exponential rise in COVID- 19 cases in India in January and February 2021 because of its weak health infrastructure. India’s entry into the vaccination marathon and program changes the narrative of how the government will perceive its national and international interests. The Indian government needs to overcome the politically motivated and charges of corrupting bureaucracy to ensure a hard-working vaccine drive can fulfil its goal of protecting the civilians and the agenda of “Atmanirbhar Bharat”[11]. Initial impression stands quite apart if put in perspective along with other nation-states. Where one million covid-19 vaccines were administered on a single day, UK and USA took 18 and 10 days respectively to reach the mark of 1 million vaccinations[12]. Suffice to say that India’s imperative in terms of becoming self-reliant in the field of medicine has been a success at this point. This should be understood along with the fact that India simultaneously provided vaccines to the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Nepal[13]. Self- reliance should not be then contextualized in the paradigm of providing vaccines to its citizens. A similar effort and agenda have been to provide vaccines to India’s alliances. This transforms India’s perception not only as a global partner but as an actor able to produce the resources required for a strong manufacturing ability and at the same time being conscious of its responsibility towards its alliance. This element falls directly under India’s advantage during the diplomatic contest against China at a time when Beijing is having a crisis of trust all over the world. The United Nations has also recognised the high level of production that India has been able to provide and is under UN’s list to achieve widespread vaccination coverage[14].
The goal for the subcontinent stands for meeting the demands and plans on scaling up the manufacturing to supply as many as 60 nations[15]. Egypt, Algeria, Kuwait, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic and Barbados and Marshall Islands and Samoa are part of India’s proposal to influence the global arena with its vaccine diplomacy[16]. In terms of the contest of influence and foothold in the Indian Ocean, New Delhi extended its neighbourhood policy towards Seychelles and Mauritius as grants and gifts. Nepal is being set to receive 27 million shots of vaccination to control the rising number of cases in the state[17]. India’s strategy for exports and promising on the deliveries has led to close ministerial contact with Pune- based Serum Institute of India and Hyderabad- based Bharat Biotech for procuring the appropriate regulatory clearances and completing the COVID- 19 vaccination programme. This program of vaccination aid is establishing India’s uniqueness when it comes to global health diplomacy and the ongoing crisis of health. New Delhi’s “Neighbourhood Policy” will see an extension of distribution to include Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Brazil, and Morocco[18]. India’s gesture of sharing its vaccine supplies with other countries stands in sharp contrast to several rich countries that are cornering, even hoarding vaccine supplies. New Delhi believes that its Vaccine Diplomacy will bridge the gap of vaccine distribution between the first world and third world. With the existing capacity to supply around 60 per cent of DPPT, BCG and measles vaccines, Vaccine Maitri has a credibility for its objectives[19]. But why is Indian demand successful? Showing less side- effects and low cost and easier to store and transport in comparison to Pfizer and Moderna, the soaring demand for the global vaccine is being attracted towards Covaxin and Covishield[20]. Despite the ability to erode the Chinese influence in South Asia and the ability of the one belt and road initiative, the head start is yet to achieve its optimum level as the closest allies, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, are yet to receive the supply of vaccination from New Delhi[21]. With the approval of these two vaccines, more vaccines, mainly Zydus, Cadila, Dr Reddy and Biological E are also likely to be ready over the next few months.
The diplomatic contest will be something to behold in South Asia. In 2020, tensions between India and China had escalated since the dispute in Galwan Valley[22]. This has extensively increased the ventures for regional dominance which China has been pushing forwards with One Belt and Road Initiative. Despite Asia’s largest economy has been ramping up influence with investment meant commitments of more than USD 150 billion in Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka, the agenda of investment is under jeopardy when put in perspective with a global health emergency[23]. Vaccine diplomacy is the resort to bolster diplomatic relations in pivotal island states such as Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka[24]. Chinese companies are striving for an international push to sell their COVID- 19 vaccines. Chinese manufacturers Sinopharm and Sinovac Biotech have signed deals with more than a dozen countries[25]. China’s leading vaccine, BBIBP- CorV, is having increased popularity in many African Countries[26]. Liu Jingzhen, chairman of SinoPharm, has indicated that the company's target is to increase its influence in the African continent[27]. Rwanda has shown international trust towards SinoPharm’s size and experiences receiving vaccines on polio, yellow fever, and smallpox[28]. Vaccine Diplomacy will be charted by China as the solution rather than the cause of the coronavirus pandemic. Publicizing this supply of medical aid worldwide, China’s ability to circumnavigate most corrupt navigations and ensure proper mitigation of medical supplies is an attraction power as expressed by Kenya’s Ethics and Anti- Corruption Commission[29]. Risk stands as any failure of the program will prove to be seriously detrimental to China’s framing of its ability and picture in the global arena.
Central to vaccine diplomacy is the potential of acting as humanitarian intervention and its role in mediating cessation of hostilities[30]. Even though the lead actor may be an international organization, but nation-states have an equal role in the success of global health diplomacy. Ilona Kickbusch, German Political Scientist, has underlined the character of global health diplomacy by the metrics of positioning health in foreign policy negotiations and creating new types of global health governance[31]. System of an organization. Communication and cooperation will shape the global policy environment in the sphere of health and its determinants. India’s success will also factor in the emphasis on soft power, security policy and fulfilling the commitments of vaccine developments. This will put India along with the objectives and working of the United Nations, Group of Eight, Group of 20, European Union, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). “Blue Marble Health'', to rise above the burdening of unequal distribution of vaccines and taking the greater responsibility of health concerns will determine whether India will make or break it during this venturing into Vaccine Diplomacy[32]. Vaccines are the single most powerful intervention ever developed by humankind in terms of the lives that they save, and modern vaccines save more lives than those that were lost during the world war[33]. India needs to be diligent in its approach and makes sure to equally distribute this powerful invention aptly. The status of being a global leader will be defined by India’s commitment to humanity and its humanitarian purpose.
Notes
[1] (1st February 2021). Financial Times, Coronavirus.
[2] (14th February 2021). Worldometer, COVID- 19 Coronavirus Pandemic.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Hotes, P (2014). “Vaccine Diplomacy”. Historical Perspectives and Future Directions. PloS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
[7] Trofimov, Y. Bellman, E (14th February 2021). “In COVID_-19 Diplomacy, India Emerges as a Vaccine Superpower”. The Wall Street Journal, Coronavirus.
[8] Krishnan, A (19th January 2021). “Explaining India’s Vaccine Diplomacy in the neighborhood and beyond”. The Hindu, In Focus Podcast.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Marshal, M. Yoe, V (11th February 2021). “The Newest Diplomacy: COVID- 19 Vaccines”. The New York Times.
[12] Ramachandran, S (26th January 2021). “India’s Vaccine Diplomacy: A Potent Card? The Diplomat, South Asia
[13] Ibid.
[14] IANS (13th February 2021). “India’s Vaccine Diplomacy garners praise from Global Media”. India TV.
[15] Op. Cit, ibid.
[16] Chellaney, B (27th January 2021). “Free Vaccines and India’s Humanitarian Diplomacy”. The Japan Times, World.
[17] Ibid.
[18] Ibid.
[19] Trofimov, Y. Bellman, E (14th February 2021), ibid.
[20] Pant, V. H. (28th January 2021). “India’s Vaccine Diplomacy”. Observer’s Research Foundation
[21] (7th February 2021). “Vaccine Diplomacy: India seeks to rival China with broad shipment”. Times of India.
[22] Op. Cit, ibid.
[23] Sreganda, S.D., Arkalgud, R. (2021). “China’s Vaccine Diplomacy: Ascension to Global Power?”
[24] Ibid.
[25] Ibid.
[26] Geeta (5th February 2021). “India’s Vaccine Diplomacy reaches 17 nations, 56 lakh doses supplied in good faith”. India Today.
[27] Ibid.
[28] Chellaney, B (27th January 2021), ibid.
[29] Sreganda, S.D., Arkalgud, R. (2021), ibid.
[30] Hotes, P (2014), ibid.
[31] Pant, V. H. (28th January 2021), ibid.
[32] Marshal, M. Yoe, V (11th February 2021). Ibid.
[33] Trofimov, Y. Bellman, E (14th February 2021), ibid.
Pic Courtesy-CDC at unsplash.com
(The views expressed are those of author only.)
